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Topic Review (Newest First)

07-27-2012 08:37 AM

KIVALO

Re: how to drop a mast on a soling?

It made its way back to the top, I never bothered to read the date. Such is life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartley18

You serious?? You're replying to a post almost four years old!

If he hasn't worked out how to lower the mast yet, then...

07-27-2012 04:45 AM

Classic30

Re: how to drop a mast on a soling?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIVALO

Ascension, I have no idea how to lower your mast but from reading the replies this sounds like a bit a project. Please post pics!

You serious?? You're replying to a post almost four years old!

If he hasn't worked out how to lower the mast yet, then...

07-26-2012 11:54 PM

Flybyknight

Re: how to drop a mast on a soling?

Build an "A" frame to hoist the mast.

dick

07-26-2012 05:39 PM

mktpower@storm.ca

Re: how to drop a mast on a soling?

The advice I gave for lowering a mast only applies to the soling. The mast of a soling is relatively light, about 55 to 70 pounds at the most. The person on the back deck of the soling with arms outstretched comes into contact with the mast at about 12 feet up from the base of the mast and by the time that person is at the back of the boat they are probably at no more than the mid-point of the mast. Some of the weight is being carried by the base of the mast resting against the deck and the back of the mast base extrusion. The rest of the weight is being held up somewhat by the person holding on to the main halyard at the front of the boat. The weight that person is carrying, as in vertical force in the upward direction is very minor because of the angle of the halyard to the mast.

Whereas, the leverage of the weight of the mast that is beyond the mid-point being held up by the person on the rear deck feels much heavier than its actual weight because the weight of the mast is leveraged because of the angle of the mast relative to the deck. It's a bit like holding the base of the fishing rod with a 30 pound fish on the end of the line. The fish actually feels heavier than it is. In fact, in the case of the soling mast, it is probably near the limit of what a strong, athletic person can handle.

This technique should not be used for even a moderately heavy mast. Even a 90 pound mast that stood 30 feet above the deck would be impossible to hold up. The leverage on the middle person would be too great likely leading to a catastrophic failure when the person holding the mast could no longer support the weight beyond the mid-point of the mast, plus the weight of the mast between that person's hands held over his head and where the base of the mast is positioned.

In short DO NOT TRY this MAST LOWERING TECHNIQUE with any heavier or longer mast. Someone could get seriously injured or killed.

07-26-2012 11:45 AM

KIVALO

Re: how to drop a mast on a soling?

Ascension, I have no idea how to lower your mast but from reading the replies this sounds like a bit a project. Please post pics!

Quote:

Originally Posted by eMKay

Well that looked pretty easy, I have a similar boat but the mast weighs much, much more than 75lbs. No idea what a Soling mast weighs but a Hunter 27 mast weighs at least 175lbs. It's massive, and I'm very surprised a Catalina 27 mast weighs so little.

Yeah my 260's mast is a bear, I was surprised how heavy it is for the boat it's on.

Brad
s/v KIVALO

07-26-2012 02:14 AM

mktpower@storm.ca

Re: how to drop a mast on a soling?

Supplies needed:

A tall 15 foot A-frame ladder with a very wide base should be placed on the stern's centre-line about seven feet behind the stern. Two people are required: one to go up the ladder and one to steady the base. Place the ladder behind the stern so that a person can comfortably stand on the ladder and receive the top section of the mast as it is lowered.

Next make sure that your boat is properly supported so that two people can safely walk on the deck, one all the way to the bow to release the forward stay while the other person steadies the mast.

Prior to this step, a long rope must be attached to the main sheet halyard. The bottom of the main sheet halyard should be tied off or put in a clutch so that it cannot be pulled out of the mast. The long rope should be fed out over the bow of the boat to a person who can stand on the ground along the boat's centre-line at least 40 feet in front of the boat. This is the person who will play the key role in lowering the mast. Then the person on the fore-deck near the bow can release the forestay shackle.

Leave the top and spreader shrouds connected to the deck. Make sure they are in the mid-position to help keep the mast centred once the mast lowering process begins.

After the forestay shackle has been released, the person returns to the forward cockpit and steps down into the cockpit, with the person still hold the back of the mast in place. The person who has just stepped down into the cockpit will be responsible for keep the back base of the mast held firmly in place so that it will continue to butt up against the back part of mast-base extrusion. This acts as the pivot point for lowering the mast.

With tension applied to the rope connected to the main sail halyard, the person who had been keeping the mast steady steps out of the cockpit and moves to stand in the centre of the aft deck just behind the cockpit. This person should be stradling the tiller, which should be firmly centred by some means to avoid a potential tripping hazard. The back deck person will be the first person to receive the mast as it is being lowered toward the back of the boat. The person on the ladder must act as a spotter for the person on the aft deck to insure that this person does not trip or fall off the rear of the boat. The person at the base of the mast must continually communicate that the base of the mast is secure and not in danger of sliding out of place suddenly. The person on the rear deck must also properly communicate with the person on the ground who is responsible for lowering the top of the mast.

The rule is proceed slowly. By the time the mast reaches the outstretched arms of the person on the back deck the weight of the mast becomes very heavy on that person as they will then walk back. It is critical for the person holding the rope at the front of the boat do his best to take as much of this weight as possible but as the mast goes back the further it goes back the less control that person has to take any of the weight.

By the time the person on the rear deck is at the stern the person on the ladder should be able to reach up and take some of the load. For this person it is critical that the person feel secure on the ladder. As the person takes some of the weight the person on the rear deck shifts to the side to let the mast drop down along the centre-line. By the time the mast reaches his waist the mast should be well supported by that person and the person on the ladder. As the mast is lowered to just above the deck the person in the cockpit will lift up the base of the mast and move it forward toward the front of the boat. Fenders should be ready at hand to support the weight of the mast and keep it off the deck. A fender pre-placed near the traveller track should be ready to accept the weight of the mast. After the mast is on the deck, the shrouds and rear stay can be disconnected.

If you are trailering the boat with the mast on the deck you will find that the mast will overhang the bow and stern by a few feet.

10-27-2010 01:22 PM

Todomi

Already some good suggestions, but just a reminder:

The height of the lifting point needs only be somewhat above the center-of-gravity of your mast (not the top of the mast). You can attach a line to a strong point near the base of the mast, then through a collar (perhaps a loop of the lifting line) at a point just above the mast's center of gravity. No need to attach at the top of the mast.

Good luck.

10-27-2010 12:13 PM

thingbe

if you still need to drop this mast call 603-742-6194 it'll be easier on the phone

I am not familiar with a Soling...but I sail a Catalina 27 which is similar in size and there is a mast lowering video on on youtube on how to do this... you may be able to gather some info from this video.YouTube - Dropping the Mast

Well that looked pretty easy, I have a similar boat but the mast weighs much, much more than 75lbs. No idea what a Soling mast weighs but a Hunter 27 mast weighs at least 175lbs. It's massive, and I'm very surprised a Catalina 27 mast weighs so little.

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